31 – Muhammad ibn Idris narrated to me; Ahmad ibn al-Hawari narrated to us; ʿUthman ibn Jabir narrated, saying: Moses said, “My Lord, choose what is best for me.” He replied, “O Moses, had I not created you, that would have been better for you.” Moses said, “My Lord, since You have created me, then choose what is best for me.” He replied, “Had I caused you to die as an infant, that would have been better for you.” Moses said, “My Lord, since You did not cause me to die as an infant, then choose what is best for me.” He replied, “You will live to old age, O Moses, and then I shall have mercy on you.”

32 – The poet said:
“O fault-finder, what defense is left for me—indeed, is any left—
now that my peers have reached sixty-odd years?
I have seen the man devoted to this world: though he pass the night in safety,
he is on a journey that carries him on while he remains unaware.”